Container Closure Comprising a Cable Tie

ABSTRACT

A tamper evident lid assembly ( 10 ) for a mouth of a container ( 12 ) comprises a lid ( 15 ) to close the mouth of the container, and a strip ( 14 ) preventing removal of the lid. Removal or disconnection of the strip ( 14 ) enables the lid ( 15 ) to be removed. The strip ( 14 ) defines at one end a block ( 20 ) with an aperture ( 24 ), and also defines serrated teeth ( 22 ) along at least part of its length, such that after removing the strip from the lid assembly it may be used as a cable tie.

The present invention relates to a closure for a container, inparticular a closure of the type referred to as a security device or asa tamper evident closure.

There are a range of different tamper evident lid assembliescommercially available, many of which necessitate removal of a stripfrom the assembly to enable the lid to be opened. A widely-used tamperevident lid assembly includes a ring around the container connected by atear-off strip to a cap; the ring cannot be removed from the containerby pulling in the direction of the cap. The tear-off strip is made ofthe same material as the ring and the cap, and these components areinitially integral, linked by thin strands or webs of material. In orderto open the cap, the strip is detached (by pulling one end) to break thelinking strands or webs, so the cap can then be opened. Another type oftamper evident lid assembly suitable for a screw-neck bottle or potcombines a ring and a screw-threaded cap; the ring cannot be removedfrom the container by pulling in the direction of the cap, and the capis initially integral with the ring and linked to it by thin strands orwebs of material. In this case if sufficient unscrewing torque isapplied to the cap, then the links between the cap and the ring arebroken, and the cap can then be opened. With both types, once thecontainer has been opened, the ring and the tear-off strip (if provided)are usually of no further use.

According to the present invention there is provided provided a tamperevident lid assembly for a mouth of a container, the assembly comprisinga lid to close the mouth of the container, and a strip preventingremoval of the lid, such that removal or disconnection of the stripenables the lid to be removed, wherein the strip defines at one end ablock with an aperture, and also defines serrated teeth along at leastpart of its length, such that after removing the strip from the lidassembly it may be used as a cable tie.

The invention also provides a tamper evident lid assembly for a mouth ofa container, the assembly comprising a lid to close the mouth of thecontainer, and a strip around at least part of the periphery of themouth, the strip being initially integral with the lid and linked to thelid by one or more breakable elements, and the strip preventing removalof the lid while they remain integral, wherein the strip defines at oneend a block with an aperture, and also defines serrated teeth along atleast part of its length, such that after removing the strip from thelid assembly it may be used as a cable tie.

Cable ties are well-known, consisting of a strip of flexible materialwith at one end a block defining an aperture, the strip having serratedteeth along part of its length, such that the other end of the strip canbe inserted through the aperture, the serrated teeth then engaging witha feature within the aperture. The engagement of the teeth with thefeature within the aperture is such that the strip cannot readily bepulled out again. The cable tie can hence be pulled to define a loop ofa desired size, and will then remain at that size. Cable ties come in arange of different lengths, and may be used for a wide range ofdifferent purposes. A cable tie may for example be used to secure cablestogether, or to secure cables to a support, as the name would suggest,but can also be used for a wide range of unrelated purposes for exampleto secure a stem of a plant to a stake, or a tree to a post, or a treebranch to a rail or wire; or to tie up the neck of a plastic bag; orindeed any other application in which elements are to be tied togetherby a strip. The engagement feature within the aperture may engage theserrated teeth in a substantially permanent fashion, so the tie can bereleased only by cutting the strip; or the block may be provided withmeans to disengage the engagement feature from the teeth so that thestrip may be withdrawn.

Thus the invention enables the strip, initially part of a securitydevice of a container, to serve a subsequent use as a cable tie. Thecrux of the invention is to provide the hole or aperture in the strip ofthe closure (the tamper evident lid assembly), and to provide this withthe non-return features of the block of a cable tie. The provision ofprojecting teeth around the inner circumference of the strip iscompatible with operation of the closure, and if these teeth areappropriately shaped they enable the use of the strip as a cable tie.Within the block the surface of the plastic within the aperture isangled so as to provide an engagement feature permitting the strip to bepulled through, but not allowing it to be pulled back. The thickness ofthe block defines the length over which the engagement feature canengage the serrated teeth to secure the strip as a cable tie. The blockmay be thicker than the rest of the strip, but may instead be of thesame thickness as the rest of the strip.

It will be appreciated that the length of the strip is substantially thesame as the periphery of the mouth of the container. Typically thelength would therefore be at least 5 cm, for example between 5 and 20cm. For larger containers the strip may consist of two or more sectionsend to end around the periphery, each strip section defining at one enda block with an aperture, and also defining serrated teeth along atleast part of its length, such that after removing the strip sectionfrom the container it may be used as a cable tie. The width of the stripis typically at least 1.5 mm, for example in the range between 1.5 and 4mm, more typically between 2 and 3 mm (i.e. the width measured in adirection away from the lid); and the thickness of the strip istypically at least 1 mm, for example in the range between 1 and 3 mm,including the height of the serrated teeth. The aperture through theblock clearly must be sufficiently large to accommodate the strip.

The block may project from the side of the lid, and may provide aconvenient part to pull when the strip is to be removed. The block maytherefore be a tab. It will be appreciated that the block may provide asurface on which information is presented, for example a barcode or a QRcode, a logo or a trade mark, or information about the product withinthe container. Such information may be printed directly onto thematerial of the block, or onto a label attached to the block, or mayeven be recorded in an electronic device embedded within the block suchas an RFID.

The invention is applicable to both types of tamper evident lid assemblydescribed above. In the three-part lid assembly a ring is connected by atear-off strip to a cap, and in order to open the cap, the strip must bedetached by pulling one end to break the strands or webs that link thering, strip and cap together. In this case the tear-off strip may be thestrip of the invention. In the two-part lid assembly a ring is connectedto a screw-threaded cap; and the cap is initially integral with the ringand linked to it by thin strands or webs of material. If sufficientunscrewing torque is applied to the cap, then the links between the capand the ring are broken, and the cap can then be opened. In this casethe ring may be provided with a block at one point around its periphery,so that the user must cut or break the ring adjacent to the block toobtain the strip of the invention. This may be simplified by providing athin portion of the ring adjacent to the block, so that the ring can bebroken at that point to obtain the strip of the invention. The ring ofthe three-part lid assembly may also have these features so that it canbecome a strip of the invention.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described by wayof example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a tamper evident lid assembly of theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an alternative tamper evident lidassembly of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a modification to the tamper evidentlid assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a strip removed from the assembly of FIG. 1, in side viewwhen straight, and with an integral block at one end;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the strip of FIG. 4, twisted to startforming a loop by inserting an end of the strip into the block;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 during insertionof the strip into the block;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a tear-off strip removed from theassembly of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a tear-off strip removed from theassembly of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a tamper evident lid assembly 10connected to a bottle 12 (shown only in part). The assembly 10 is atwo-part assembly, consisting of a ring 14 and a screw-top cap 15 whichare of the same plastic material and integral each other, being linkedby several narrow strands 16 of the same material. The ring 14 locatesbetween two circumferential ridges 17 on the neck of the bottle 12 (onlyone of which is shown) just above and just below the ring 14, so thering 14 cannot be detached from the bottle 12. The connection betweenthe cap 15 and the ring 14 consequently prevents the cap 15 from beingremoved. When it is desired to remove the cap 15, it is unscrewed withsufficient torque to break the strands 16, and the cap 15 can then beremoved. These features are conventional.

In the assembly 10 the ring 14 defines a block 20 at one point aroundits circumference, and there is a thin portion 21 immediately adjacentto one side of the block 20. After removing the cap 15, the block 20 canbe levered away from the neck of the bottle 12, for example using ascrewdriver, and breaking the ring 14 at the thin portion 21, so as toform a strip 14 a with the block 20 at one end. Referring now to FIGS.4, 5 and 6, the ring 14 and hence the strip 14 a defines serrated teeth22 around its inner circumference, and the block 20 defines arectangular slot 24 through which the end of the strip 14 a can beinserted after twisting through 90°. Within the block 20 arecorrespondingly angled teeth 26 (see FIG. 6), the shapes of the teeth 22and the teeth 26 being such that the strip 14 a can be pushed throughthe slot 24, but cannot be pulled back. Hence the strip 14 a can be usedas a cable tie to secure items together.

In a modification, the block is no thicker than the rest of the strip;in this case there might be just one tooth in the block to engage withthe teeth on the strip.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown an alternative tamper evident lidassembly 30 connected to a bottle or container 32 (shown only in part).The lid assembly 30 is a three-part assembly, consisting of a ring 34, atear-off strip 35 and a cap 36. The ring 34 locates between a ridge (notshown) on the neck of the container 32 and the shoulder 33 of thecontainer, so it cannot be removed from the container 32. The cap 36 isconnected by a narrow hinge strip 37 directly to the ring 34 over ashort length of its periphery, and over the remainder of its peripherythe cap 36 is linked to the ring 34 by the tear-off strip 35, linked bynarrow strands 38; the ring 34, tear-off strip 35, cap 36, hinge strip37 and strands 38 are all integral with each other and of the sameplastic material. When the container 32 is to be opened, the tear-offstrip 35 is pulled off. The cap 36 can then be opened, while remaininglinked to the container 32 by the hinge strip 37 so it cannot becomemislaid. In this example the cap 36 clips onto the top of the neck ofthe container 32, so the container 32 can be closed again. Thesefeatures are known.

In the assembly 30 the tear-off strip 35 defines a projecting tab orblock 40 at one end, which is wider than the remainder of the strip 35.This block 40 provides a convenient handle when the tear-off strip 35 isto be pulled off. The block 40 also defines a rectangular slot 42. Asshown in FIG. 7, to which reference is now made, the tear-off strip 35defines serrated teeth 44 around its inner circumference, and the block40 defines a rectangular slot 42 through which the end of the tear-offstrip 35 can be inserted. As with the block 20, within the block 40 arecorrespondingly angled teeth (not shown), the shapes of the teeth 44 andthe teeth within the block 40 being such that the tear-off strip 35 canbe pushed through the slot 42, but cannot be pulled back. Hence thetear-off strip 35 can be used as a cable tie to secure items together.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown an alternative tamper evident lidassembly 50 with several features in common with the assembly 30 of FIG.2, in that the lid assembly 50 is also a three-part assembly consistingof a ring 54, a tear-off strip 55 and a cap 56, the ring 54 not beingremovable from the container 32. In this case the cap 56 is linked tothe ring 54 along its entire periphery by the tear-off strip 55, linkedby narrow strands 58, so that the ring 54, tear-off strip 55, cap 56,and strands 58 are all integral with each other and of the same plasticmaterial. Again there is a block 60 at one end of the tear-off strip 55,but in this case the block 60 protrudes only by the amount by which itis thicker than the tear-off strip 55, the top and bottom portions ofthe block 60 locating in corresponding recesses in the ring 54 and thecap 56; at the other end of the tear-off strip 55 an end section 61steps out at 63 to protrude and to overlap the block 60 (while not beingconnected to it).

When the lid assembly 50 is to be opened, the tear-off strip 55 ispulled by the protruding section 61 and is removed completely. The cap56 can then be opened. The tear-off strip 55, after it has been removedin this fashion, is similar to the tear-off strip 35. As shown in FIG.8, to which reference is now made, the strip 55 defines serrated teeth64 along most of its inner surface, but not along the section 61, andthe block 60 defines a rectangular slot 62 through which the free end 61can be inserted, and there are correspondingly angled teeth within theblock 60 whose shapes are such that the tear-off strip 55 can be pushedthrough the slot 62, but cannot be pulled back. In this example the step63 does not prevent the strip 55 passing through the slot 62. Hence thetear-off strip 55 can be used as a cable tie to secure items together.

It will be appreciated that the lid assemblies 10, 30 and 50 are givenby way of example only, and that they can be modified in various wayswhile remaining within the scope of the present invention. For examplethe strip 14 a and the tear-off strips 35 and 55 are shown as havingteeth along substantially their whole length, but instead there might beteeth along only a fraction of the length. The teeth 22, 44 and 64 areshown as extending across the width of the strip, but might instead berestricted to only part of the width; and the teeth 22, 44 and 64 mightbe smaller than shown, as long as they are sufficiently large to engagethe correspondingly angled elements within the blocks 20, 40 or 60. Thelid assemblies 10, 30 and 50 are for containers with circular mouths,but can readily be modified for containers with mouths of differentshapes, for example rectangles.

For example the strip 55 of FIG. 8 might be modified to provide teeth 64only on the end section 61 and not on the remainder of the strip; thiswould be necessary if the step 63 itself could not pass through the slot62, but this provides a cable tie with a rather restricted range of sizeadjustment.

Since the end of the strip has to fit through the aperture in the block,the block may be the same width as the strip (as in FIG. 1), in whichcase the aperture must be at an orientation such that the end of thestrip must be twisted to fit through the aperture (as shown in FIG. 5).It will be appreciated that the lid assemblies 30 and 50 might bemodified to have the block of the same width as the strip. The otherarrangement is with the block being wider than the strip (as in FIGS. 2and 3), in which case the aperture can be at an orientation such thatthe end of the strip can fit through the aperture without being twisted(as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). It will be appreciated that the lidassembly 10 might be modified to have the block wider than the strip, aslong as the block is not fixed to the cap 15.

In the examples described above the resulting cable tie, when assembled,has the free end of the tie projecting outside the loop formed by thecable tie; alternatively the engagement features within the block mightface the opposite direction, so that the free end of the tie wouldproject inside the resulting loop.

And as with some designs of cable tie, the block in each case mayinclude means to disengage the engagement feature from the teeth on thestrip, so that the strip may be withdrawn and so the cable tie can bedisconnected and re-used.

1. A tamper evident lid assembly for a mouth of a container, theassembly comprising a lid to close the mouth of the container, and astrip preventing removal of the lid, such that removal or disconnectionof the strip enables the lid to be removed, wherein the strip defines atone end a block with an aperture, and also defines serrated teeth alongat least part of its length, such that after removing the strip from thelid assembly it may be used as a cable tie.
 2. A lid assembly as claimedin claim I, wherein the strip extends around at least part of theperiphery of the mouth, the strip being initially integral with the lidand linked to the lid by one or more breakable elements, and the strippreventing removal of the lid while they remain integral.
 3. A lidassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the block is thicker than theremainder of the strip.
 4. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe length of the strip to be removed, and the length of the stripusable as a cable tie, are substantially the same as the periphery ofthe mouth of the container.
 5. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein the strip to be removed from the container consists of two ormore sections, each strip section defining at one end a block with anaperture, and also defining serrated teeth along at least part of itslength, such that after removing each strip section from the containerit may be used as a cable tie.
 6. A lid assembly as claimed in claims 1wherein the length of each strip usable as a cable tie is at least 5 cm.7. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the length is between 5and 20 cm.
 8. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the width ofthe strip is at least 1.5 mm.
 9. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 8wherein the width is in the range between 1.5 and 4 mm.
 10. A lidassembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the thickness of the strip,including the height of the serrated teeth, is at least 1 mm.
 11. A lidassembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thickness is in the rangebetween 1 and 3 mm.
 12. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein theblock protrudes from the lid assembly.
 13. A lid assembly as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the block is at least partly recessed, whereas the otherend of the strip protrudes from the lid assembly.
 14. A lid assembly asclaimed in claim l wherein the block provides a surface on whichinformation is presented.
 15. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 1 alsocomprising an electronic device embedded within the block.
 16. A lidassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strip, before it is removedfrom the assembly, forms a continuous ring.
 17. A lid assembly asclaimed in claim 16 wherein the continuous ring defines a thin portionadjacent to the block.